Trevor Immelman finalized his International Presidents Cup team on Tuesday with six captain's picks to complete a side "hungry" to take on the United States even without high profile names ruled out by their move to LIV Golf.
South Africa's Immelman, the 2008 Masters champion, admitted it was disappointing to see players including world No. 2 Cameron Smith and 13th-ranked Joaquin Niemann ruled out after their jump to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, which saw them lose their PGA Tour status.
But he said he was more than satisfied with the squad assembled, which already featured 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and 2013 Masters winner Adam Scott of Australia. "These are the players that wanted to be on the team," Immelman said. "I want the guys that are committed." Scott has played 10 Presidents Cups and Matsuyama has featured in four.
But five of the six captain's picks named by Immelman are newcomers to the match play showdown that features an International team of players from everywhere except Europe taking on the United States in a competition modeled on the Ryder Cup.